In times of uncertainty people seek transparency, which is driving
a business boom for local producers, writes GEORGIE MEREDITH.A
s we emerge from a period of total uncertainty,
one thing is becoming clear: a shift is taking
place as consumers rethink their approach to
fresh food, questioning where it comes from,
how it’s grown and even how it tastes.
While big-name supermarkets remain essential
for basic necessities, the real-world effects of climate
change, drought, and yearly bushfires, have galvanised
consumers into thinking more carefully about their
weekly shop.
The result? Small-scale farmers are experiencing
a boom of interest, with local markets and delivery
services thriving. More recently, the health, social and
economic ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic have
driven customers to shop in new ways, propelling
producers into their busiest period ever.Talia Smith is the founder of The Locals Market
- a sustainably-operated weekly food market run out
of Paramount House Hotel in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
Smith sources all her fruit and vegetables from
small-scale producers close to Sydney.
The chef-turned-wholefoods-dealer started the
venture nearly seven years ago in the hopes of bringing
quality local produce to her community in a social
and sustainable way. “I wanted to make it simple for
households to access local produce and reduce
mindless shopping at supermarkets,” explains Smith.
Since then, the project’s customer base has grown
from a few regulars to a coterie of nearly 200 people.
And this year, she says, she’s never been busier. Smith,
like many others, believes there has been a major change
in the way people are thinking about their food.